"Mussulman!" I exclaimed; "is that your answer? Do you know who I am, and that I shall report your conduct at Constantinople? Is this my reception? Don't you know I am meeri ?" (employed by Government).

"Oh! indeed; I really was not aware pray be seated," said the Mudir, rising, and offering me his seat; "what can I do for you?" At this moment a stout fellow, covered with arms, whispered to me:"Oh! Bey, pray forgive him: he knew not you were a great man; besides, he is quite a savage, and understands not good manners!"

"And now," I said sternly, "I want horses; can you obtain them for me?"

Mudir." A hundred, if you want them, or anything else, O Bey; only say the word."

I now found the Mudir only too anxious to serve me, especially after my poor soldiers had whispered something into the ear of his attendants relative, doubtless, to my exalted rank and dignity. As horses could not readily be procured at this town, I had an empty boat with fresh rowers given me, by which I proceeded rapidly to another point of the river, where, being furnished with an order from the Mudir, I soon obtained horses.

Once more I found myself in the saddle, and galloping on a good green road over a flat alluvial plain. Presently we come to a jungle, where we have to work our way through deep and tenacious mud; then, emerging from this, the masts of ships appear above the jungle-trees, and I arrive in Batoom just as the sun sets, and am saluted by the dismal howl of jackals from the swamp on the outskirts

of the town. I proceed direct to the residence of the French Consul, M. Meyer, and astonish him not a little by my appearance; but once having ascertained who and what I was, his kind hospitality was unbounded, and I soon revelled in the luxuries of a splendid supper and a soft clean bed.

CONCLUSION.

Effect of the loss of Kars-Could Kars have been relieved? - Conduct

of Omer Pasha

General Williams.

Mouravieff's opinion of it

Selim Pasha ·

HERE, then, we arrive, after hurried and discursive steps, at the end of this campaign in Anatolia.

While I express my unfeigned sense of the defects of a narrative hastily compiled from rough and very brief notes, I would also state that, except I had been urged from quarters entitled to my respect, to lay these facts and comments before the public, it is more than probable they would never have been published. But on my arrival in England I could not fail to perceive the intense interest and impatience with which authentic and explanatory intelligence of the sad fate of the beleaguered city was desired.

It would have been far more satisfactory to myself if these events coud have been recorded by the abler pen of my Ichief or of the other British officers who are now in captivity. This could not be; and therefore, utterly defective as I felt must be my work, I obeyed what I conceived to be a call of duty; and have done what I could to satisfy the just impatience of an expectant public.

That the loss of Kars is a blot on a year otherwise successful for the arms of the Allies cannot be denied: an injury has been thereby inflicted on the prestige of

England, which we must all regret.

Sevastopol was

doubtless a grand triumph, calculated to produce a vast political effect throughout Europe and the West; but Asiatics scarce knew of its existence, whereas scores of wandering dervishes and fakirs from the regions of Central Asia, Persia, and Northern India have visited Kars, and are thoroughly aware of its importance. These men take the place of newspapers in the East, and their reports must exercise a damaging influence on the reputation of England.

I am constantly asked the question-Could Kars have been relieved by Omer Pasha? My answer is, that to the best of my belief it could. Had Omer Pasha landed at Trebizond, instead of making Soukum Kalé the base of his operations, he might have marched to Erzeroom through a friendly country, where the people and cattle of each village would have been at his service, and over a road which, being habitually traversed at all seasons by hosts of mules and muleteers, affords barley, corn, and other necessaries for a marching army. The road is certainly difficult; but when Omer Pasha, after a monstrous delay, landed at Soukum Kalé,* it was the best of all seasons for a march to Erzeroom. The road, ascending higher and higher, becomes healthier at every step. The weather was dry and fine, the villagers had got in their harvest, and their oxen, carts, and corn were available without difficulty. Supposing the General wished to make a forced march unencumbered by a heavy train of artillery, Erzeroom was teeming with artillery, ammu

*Soukum Kale is far north of Redout Kalé. It is not marked in the accompanying Map.

nition, and military stores, sent all too late for the army of Kars. There were thousands of ox-carts and baggagehorses awaiting him at an idle and abundant season, when the crops had been harvested, and men and oxen were resting from their labours.

In Erzeroom there are spacious khans, mosques, and other buildings admirably adapted for barracks and hospitals—in short everything desirable as a base of operations; and the road from thence to Kars lies across a succession of broad, dry, and healthy plains, through a corn-growing country, with streams of pure water at each step. It is more than probable that Omer Pasha, knowing the capacity of his subordinate officers, was in nowise anxious to meet a large and well-appointed Russian army in the field. The result would have been, to say the least, doubtful, supposing Mouravieff had offered battle. The Turkish soldiers, as we have seen, can fight splendidly, but, like all other troops, they must be well handled; nor, whatever may be the talents of the Generalissimo, can I conceive it possible, officered as they are, that they would meet a Russian army on anything like equal terms. Still it is giving Mouravieff credit for too much temerity to suppose he would have offered battle with a beaten army to a fresh body of well-appointed troops, and with a fortress in his rear containing men who, after one glorious success, were burning with martial ardour and crying to be again led on; nor, in the event of any aid appearing, would they have cried in vain. The same General and the same officers who had led them to victory on the 29th, were no less eager than themselves to march with them to victory or death.